FIFA has fined 370,000 Swiss francs (about 340,000 euros) to Manchester City for violating the rules on transfers of minor players, the court said Tuesday. The champion club of England, which risked according to the English press until a prohibition of recruitment, which rivaled his rival Chelsea for the same reasons, was finally fined by the Disciplinary Committee of Fifa, this one explaining having "taken into account the fact that Manchester City had recognized its responsibility".
The club "in compliance" since December 2016
According to the Citizens, the fine relates to the "international transfer of players under 18, in particular as regards their periods of practice and their participation in friendly matches". "The club accepts responsibility for the shortcomings that result from a misinterpretation of the regulations in question, all of which occurred before December 2016, when the guidelines for the interpretation of the provisions were published. Manchester City is in full compliance, "say the Citizens.
Manchester City had already been worried for the recruitment of Argentina's Benjamin Garré, who joined the Citizens at 16, before being cleared last year by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His former club, Velez Sarsfield, contested the transfer, arguing that his player was approached by City when he was only 15 years old.
Atlético Madrid or Barça already sanctioned
Manchester City is doing much better than Chelsea: Fifa guilty of offenses in 29 minor player transfers, the Blues have been banned from recruiting for two transfer windows, this summer and next winter. As before them, Atletico Madrid - in 2017 -, FC Barcelona - in 2015 - and Real Madrid weaned the only winter mercato 2017 for the same reasons.